Kid-Friendly Perks: Diaper-changing station, high chairs

Blue Plate Special: The name says it all: distinctive wood-fired pizza with exotic toppings.

The Dish: The cornerstone of Sam Ladeki's fleet of restaurants, Sammy's is the only one that's expanded past the San Diego area. Not an ordinary pizza joint, it's a gourmet restaurant that happens to serve killer pizza. What started with a single location in La Jolla has become a fast-growing micro-chain, enticing folks through the doors with promises of smoke-imbued pizzas and exotic toppings such as Jamaican jerk shrimp and smoked duck sausage. Entrees include prime beef, seafood and pasta with Asian influences. For dessert, try the sinfully satisfying crispy caramel apple sundae. Sammy's is a step up from pie-centered family restaurants and mass-production pizza parlors.

The Atmosphere: Saltillo tile floors, warm woods and greenery make for a cozy atmosphere nice enough for a first date or family birthdays (but not so swanky that you'll wish you'd hired a sitter). Sammy's is kid-friendly but still manages to maintain enough cachet to please the adults.

Categories: Restaurants, Pizza, Restaurants-Pizza

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